Doug Flutie Biography

Quarterback Doug Flutie was named most outstanding player of the Canadian Football League (CFL) six times (1991-1994, 1996, 1997). Known for his ability to keep offensive drives alive, Flutie won Grey Cup championships with the Calgary Stampeders (1992) and the Toronto Argonauts (1996, 1997). In 1998 he signed with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. Here, as a member of the Argonauts, Flutie evades an Edmonton Eskimos defender during the 1996 Grey Cup, which the Argonauts won, 43-37.

Doug Flutie, born in 1962, American professional football player, a quarterback for teams in the United States Football League (USFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), and National Football League (NFL). A small but quick and creative passer, Flutie led his CFL teams to three Grey Cup championships (1992, 1996, 1997).

Born in Manchester, Maryland, Douglas Richard Flutie attended Boston College on a football scholarship. He gained national attention in 1984 when he threw a long game-winning touchdown pass on the final play against defending national champion University of Miami. The same year Flutie won the Heisman Trophy, college football’s top honor, after leading the nation in passing with 3,454 yards.

In 1985 both the New Jersey Generals of the USFL and the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL drafted Flutie. He chose to play for the Generals, but when the USFL soon folded he joined the Chicago Bears of the NFL. In 1987 the Bears traded Flutie to the New England Patriots. Following the 1989 season, he left New England and signed with the British Columbia Lions of the CFL.

During his first year with the Lions, Flutie struggled to adjust to Canadian football. He quickly developed into a dominant player, however, and during his second season broke the league’s single-season passing record with 6,619 yards. Flutie joined the Calgary Stampeders as a free agent in 1992 and led the club to a Grey Cup championship that same year. In 1996 he signed as a free agent with the Toronto Argonauts, and he led the team to consecutive Grey Cup titles in 1996 and 1997. In his CFL career Flutie was named most outstanding player each year from 1991 through 1994 and then again in 1996 and 1997, the most in the history of the league.

In 1998 Flutie returned to the NFL as a backup quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. When starting quarterback Rob Johnson was injured, Flutie led the Bills to the playoffs, throwing for 20 touchdowns in the process. Flutie’s return to the NFL earned him a 1998 NFL comeback player of the year award and a spot in the Pro Bowl. As the Bills’ starting quarterback the following season, Flutie led all NFL quarterbacks with 478 rushing yards and also passed for 3,171 yards as Buffalo again made the postseason. After the 2000 season Flutie was released and signed with the San Diego Chargers.